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How should honeysuckle be pruned?

25 Apr 2008

I have a Lonicera 'Belgica' that is three years old. It has not been pruned since it was planted as I wanted it to grow up to hide a neighbour's hot tub. Problem is, now it is over seven feet tall, four feet wide and top heavy. It is on a metal trellice that blows in the wind now. How much should I prune it back (ie. two thirds to the root, one third, etc). When should it be pruned? What would be another good way to support it?

GARDENWISE HORTICULTURIST CAROLYN JONES,

‘Belgica’, or early Dutch honeysuckle, is a cultivar of Lonicera periclymenum. First of all, give some thought to the support for this lovely, fragrant vine. The easiest approach would be to buy or construct a sturdy trellis out of 2x2 cedar. Make it large enough to screen the hot tub – maybe your neighbours would even contribute to the cost for the added privacy! Honeysuckles climb by weaving their stems in and out of a support, so the boards can be spaced about 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in.) apart. Gently bend the vine out of the way while you install the new trellis. Then you can take a look at the whole plant and prune it. Because you are looking for privacy and because you don’t want to lose the flower buds, don’t prune too drastically. Start out by removing any damaged or crossing branches. The stems will be tangled, but you may be able to gently tease some of them apart and treat them individually. Aim to take off only one third of the current growth, but do this carefully, going slowly and thinking about each cut. The goal is to spread the plant out into a fan shape and encourage growth from the base. This happens partly as a response to pruning, but also try to allow sunlight to reach the lower part of the plant so those shoots and leaves will be sturdy and healthy. Encourage new growth by applying an organic fertilizer that releases over a long period and well-composted organic mulch. Water well during dry spells to prevent stress. Keep an eye on the plant and encourage shoots in the direction you desire. Watch where the sun hits the plant as well – you may need to prune its neighbours to allow the sun to reach the whole plant. I have found that this also keeps aphids at bay because the plant is more vigorous and better able to resist the odd aphid. Managing a vine is a matter of coaching and editing -- then sit back and enjoy!

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